New measure aims to deter illegal firearm transfers & strengthen public safety through consumer-facing warnings

PHILADELPHIA — Mayor Cherelle L. Parker today, alongside City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. (4th District), Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, Chief Director of Public Safety Adam Geer, City Solicitor Renee Garcia, other City officials, and gun violence prevention advocates, signed into law Bill No. 241057, titled “Mandatory Posting of Warning of Unlawful Transfer of Firearm.” The ordinance, which previously passed City Council unanimously in June, now requires licensed firearms dealers within the city to prominently display warning signs about the criminality of straw purchasing. 

Straw purchasing occurs when an individual buys a firearm on behalf of another person who is legally prohibited from doing so, such as someone with a criminal record or underage buyers. This ordinance was developed in response to recommendations from law enforcement and public safety advocates, who identified clear, visible signage as a low-cost but high-impact way to deter illegal purchases and educate the public.

“By ensuring every person who visits a licensed firearms retailer is clearly warned that purchasing a weapon for someone else is a serious crime,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, “we are taking a meaningful step toward preventing firearms from being circulated and reducing gun violence in our neighborhoods. This is another tool in our toolbox to make our streets and neighborhoods safer.”

Key highlights of the new law include:

Bilingual Warning Signs: All licensed firearms retailers must display a Straw Purchase Warning Sign in English and Spanish, with clear messaging in at least 30-point Helvetica or similar type on a fluorescent orange background. The sign reads:

Strategic Placement Requirements: Signs must be displayed within five feet of the entrance, near payment areas, at range entrances (if applicable), and by any area where purchasing documents are completed. 
City-Provided Signage: The Philadelphia Police Department will provide these warning signs free of charge to all licensed firearms dealers.  There are seven licensed firearms dealers in Philadelphia, police said.
Enforcement and Penalties: Dealers who fail to comply will receive a written notice of violation and have 30 days to remedy the issue. Continued noncompliance results in a daily fine of $2,000, considered a Class III offense. 

Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., who introduced the legislation, worked closely with the Philadelphia Police Department, the Department of Public Safety, and the Law Department to craft the measure. The Police Department will oversee sign distribution and enforcement, while the Department of Public Safety will coordinate compliance monitoring with local dealers. Together, these agencies will ensure the law is effectively implemented and that warning signs are prominently displayed across all licensed firearm retailers in Philadelphia.

“Through straw purchases, well-intentioned individuals often unknowingly find themselves breaking the law, believing they are simply helping out a friend, partner, or family member. However, what seems like an innocent favor can have serious consequences as the law is very clear; straw purchasing is illegal and a felony,” said Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. (4th District). “I am proud to partner with Mayor Parker on this legislation and thank her for her continued leadership through P.I.E. (Prevention, Intervention, and Enforcement) truly making our city a safer place to live.»

“Gun violence in Philadelphia is fueled by the black market of illegal firearms, many of which have been straw purchased and passed on from its original purchaser,” said Renee Garcia, City Solicitor. “As we continue to explore all legal options for combatting the gun violence crisis, we are hopeful that this legislation will contribute to a culture of safe and legal gun ownership by notifying both shop attendees and customers of the illegality and the risks of straw purchasing firearms.”

The passage and signing of Bill No. 241057 reflects the Parker Administration’s ongoing commitment to a safer, cleaner, and greener Philadelphia. By combining prevention, intervention, and enforcement strategies, the City is taking decisive steps to curb the supply of illegal firearms and reduce gun violence. Homicides declined 36 percent last year and shootings decreased 37 percent. This ordinance underscores that stopping gun violence requires not just policing, but community awareness, legislative action, and shared responsibility across all sectors of the city.